Some City of Cincinnati leaders are considering decriminalizing marijuana.

The idea, being driven by Vice Mayor Christopher Smitherman, is in the early stages. Any decriminalization would happy through a charter amendment, which would need approval from voters.

Decriminalization could get to the ballot with six votes of council or a ballot initiative, which Smitherman said he would seek if the votes aren't there.

It's unclear where all council members stand on the issue, which has not been publicly discussed.

"We're seeing publicly traded companies investing in marijuana companies, however the citizen on the street is being locked up over a joint," Smitherman said. "There's a big disconnect about what is happening on Wall Street and what’s happening in the urban core."

Councilmember Jeff Pastor, who supports the idea, mentioned the initiative during Wednesday's council meeting while responding to speakers who turned out during public speaking to urge council to fund a study looking at institutional racism in city policies. Pastor told The Enquirer he supports full legalization of marijuana.

"For me, it's about the free market and personal choices," Pastor said. "This is a business. This decriminalization action is what we can do about it now."

No action was taken on the study or creating a task force to look at city policies, but council is considering both. One of the speakers at Wednesday's meeting brought up the idea of decriminalizing marijuana.

People caught with small amounts of marijuana for personal consumption in the Hamilton County city won’t be prosecuted, racking up a criminal record. A criminal record is a barrier to getting housing or jobs.

Norwood joined more than 50 localities in a dozen states that have ended prosecution or enacted municipal laws or resolutions decriminalizing minor violations for cannabis possession, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

The potential Cincinnati ordinance could do the same thing, though no details have been worked out. The city's legal staff is working on a draft proposal with public hearings to come, Smitherman said in a Tweet

In Ohio, possession of less than 100 grams of cannabis is a minor misdemeanor punishable by a $150 fine. Possession of 100 to 200 grams is a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum sentence of 30 days imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250. Anyone caught possessing 200 grams or more is subject to felony charges.

"My perception – and I don’t know the statistics – is that marijuana laws disproportionately impact the poor and those who are not well connected," Smitherman said. "If you have the means, you hire a lawyer to navigate out of these smaller criminal transactions."

The idea comes as council also readies to discuss an ordinance that would raise the age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21 within city limits. Fifteen cities in Ohio have already adopted similar legislation, including Cleveland and Columbus.